Depending on the color scheme that you choose, these fun snowflakes can stay up all winter long!  So, are you ready to make this intricate and complex-looking but low effort craft?  Here’s how:

Supplies:

• Darice Cardstock
• Glue Dots
• Paper Cutter (optional)
• Scissors
• Stapler

1. Take 6 pieces of cardstock in your choice of colors – I used white, light blue and dark blue so it can stay up all winter long.  Cut them into a square.  I used an 8.5” x 11.5 piece of paper and made it into an 8.5” x 8.5” square, and it turned out to be a very large snowflake.  Choose the size of your squares depending on how big you want your finished snowflake to be.
2. Fold the square into a triangle, and then fold it again into a smaller triangle.  Note: if your paper is not a perfect square and you have excess on the sides, that is okay, it will not show.
3. Unfold the small triangle so you are working with the big triangle piece.  Cut diagonal lines from the bottom of the fold up to just before the crease of the paper – DO NOT cut all the way to the crease!  Do the same to the other side of the triangle and match up the distance of the slits the best you can.  I cut 4 slits on each side, but that might differ depending on the size of your triangle.
4. Unfold your triangle and starting with the middle, roll the two points together, forming a tube.  Adhere with a glue dot (I started out using tape and it was a little hard to use and you could see it, so glue dots are perfect!).  Flip the paper over- so the next tube will be on the opposite side of the first- make another tube and adhere the point together.  Continue with the rest of the paper, making sure to alternate sides with each cut out.
5. Repeat steps 2 – 4 with the other 5 pieces of cardstock.
6. After all 6 sides of the snowflake are completed, take 3 of them and staple the bottom points together.  Do the same with the other 3, then staple both sets together by matching the center points together.
7. Once the snowflake is fully assembled, staple the snowflake sides together so they look more connected and do not come apart.  The staples should not show.  Add a ribbon or string to hang, and your pretty, 3D snowflake is done!

To sweeten the pot, the winning crafter will receive a prize AND one randomly chosen voter will receive a craft prize pack valued at $100! (The winner will get to choose the crafting category/categories that they would most like products from, i.e. paper crafts, jewelry, kid’s crafts, etc.)

To enter, just leave a comment below telling us which ornament is your favorite!

1) School Picture Keepsake Ornaments by Jenny:

2) Christmas Ribbon Flower Ornament by Sarah F:

3) Mixed Media Spool Ornament by Vicki:

4) Wooden Snowflake Ornaments by Paul:

5) Cupcake Ornaments by Sarah B:

6) Etched Glass Ornament by Niki:

7) Garland Ornaments by Jen G:

8 ) Scandinavian Bird Ornament by Christian:

9) Bead & Glitter Ornaments by Anne:

10) Snowball Ornaments by Kim L:

11) Berry Accents Ornament by Kim M:

Giveaway (Sweepstakes) Disclaimer:

• Odds of winning are based on number of entries.
• This giveaway begins: 12/21/11 and ends: 12/27/11 at 9am EST.
• To enter this sweepstakes, leave a comment on this blog post.
• One comment per person, please.
• The winner will be contacted via email
• The retail dollar value of this prize is worth: $100.00
• No purchase is necessary.
• You must be a US resident aged 18 years or older and live in the Contiguous US for be eligible to win. Sorry, my international friends!

Supplies:

• Berry Accents Vase Fillers (I used Green/Yellow Pearl and Gold Glitter)*
• 3 inch Dylite Balls or any other size/shape Styrofoam base
• Studio 71 Acrylic Paint in Iridescent Gold
• Aleene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue
• Dual Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
• Flat Paint Brushes
• (2)  24 inch pieces of 3/16 or 1/8 inch Double Faced Ribbon per ornament
  

1)  Use acrylic craft paint as a base coat. This will keep the white of the dylite from showing through any spaces between the berries.

2)  Once the paint dries, use hot glue to attach the ribbon and divide the ornament into 4 different quadrants. Start by gluing the middle of each ribbon to the bottom of the ornament, and use one or two additional glue dots to adhere each piece up the ornament, finishing at the top. I twisted the ribbon in between each dot of glue to give it a fancier look.

Berrying in Process!

3)  Working on one quadrant at a time, make lines with Aleene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue. Using a flat brush, spread the glue around thickly to fill up the space. Place berries onto the glue, pressing softly to make sure each berry nestles into the glue.  (Note: It proved to be a little easier to do half of each ornament and allow to dry before finishing the other half, to keep the just-set berries from moving around in the wet glue.)

4)  Once the glue has dried and the berries are set, create the ribbon hanger and bow. Using two opposite pieces, gently tie a knot next to the ornament. Then tie those two ribbon pieces together at the top as well.  Take the remaining two pieces and tie them into a decorative bow around the hanger to finish off the ornament.

 Bonus: Berry Accents Topiary Christmas Tree

Berry Accents Topiary Tree

Additional supplies needed:

• Small Durafoam Cone
• 1.5 inch Star Tree Topper
• Gold Glitter (I used Martha Stewart, but Darice gold glitter might better match the berries)

I made this cute Berry Accents topiary tree much the same way as I crafted the ornaments above.  However, before I started to glue on the berries, I used hot glue to attach a glittered star tree topper. Once the berries were affixed and the tacky glue had dried, I added twisty ribbon tinsel–hot glued at the top, bottom, and once or twice in the middle–to finish off this free-standing holiday decoration.

*Note: Both ornaments and the topiary together used a little less than 1/4 of the Green/Yellow Pearl Berry Accents, and maybe 1/6 of the Gold Glitter Berry Accents. So this is a great option for those who need a lot of handmade ornaments!

Supplies:

• 70mm Glass Ball Ornament
• Aleene’s True Snow
• Martha Stewart Glitter Set
• Diamond Dust
• Paint Brush
• Food Coloring or Paint (optional)
• Ribbon

Using a paint brush, cover the glass ornament with Aleene’s True Snow, making peaks periodically around the ornament.

While the snow is still wet, sprinkle diamond dust and/or glitter until you achieve your desired look.  Let dry completely then add ribbon or hook to hang. 

For a colored Snowball Ornament, add food coloring or paint directly into the True Snow and mix well.  Follow steps above.

These seed bead and glitter dusted bulbs are just that.  You will notice I did them in loud purple, green, aqua and pink…but they could also be in softer hues of white, silver or gold.  

Supplies:

• Glass or Clear Acrylic Bulbs – Round or Disc Shape
• 2-3 Packs (Per Bulb) of Darice Seed Beads in Choice of Colors
• Martha Stewart Glitter (other brands work, but this is the Cadillac of bling!)
• Matte Mod Podge
• Foam Brush
• Spray Adhesive

 I started out by spreading three packs of seed beads out in the Darice Tidy Mate Craft Tray (not necessary, but easy to use and clean up beads afterward). 

I first applied a thin, even coat of Matte Mod Podge to the Ornament with a foam brush.  Once the ornament was fully coated, I pressed it in the seed beads.  I continued to pick up beads and sprinkle them over the ornament until it was almost completely covered.   At this point, you will see spaces in-between the beads with glue.  

Don't mind my immensely glittered fingers!

Next, I applied a light coat of spray adhesive to the ornament, being careful not to get it on the silver top.  While it is still tacky, I applied a coordinating color of Martha Stewart glitter.   I went crazy with it, just glittered the thing to death. 

Next, another generous layer of spray adhesive to set everything in place.   You can repeat glitter and adhesive as many times as you need to in order to get to the desired amount of bling.  Hang to dry.  I added ribbon to finish off at the end.

Thinking it would be fun to add some paper crafted ornaments to my Christmas tree, I fell in love with some of the images on the Scandinavian Christmas Cards Cricut Cartridge, and decided on a beautiful simple bird cut out for my ornaments.

Keeping the size at 3 -3/4 inches, I cut out and glittered only the parts of the layers that would show through to the completed bird. Once you’ve assembled the cut out, simply punch a hole at the top for your ornament hanger and you’re all ready to decorate your tree!Supplies:

• Cricut Machine & Cartridge
• Krylon spray adhesive
• Martha Stewart Glitter
• Tacky Glue
• Core’Dinations Cardstock in your choice of colors

Materials used in this project:

• Crayola® Glitter Glue
• Wood Spring Clothes Pins
• Darice® Premium Canvas Texture Cardstock
• 3/16 inch White Curling Ribbon

Christmas ornament garland by Jen Goode

Cut cardstock into 2-3″ squares. Cut a coordinating set of smaller squares and glue to the larger pieces. Create mini drawings using the glitter glue on each square. After is all dries, hang it up using mini clothes pins. You can mix and match the art and colors however you like. The glitter glue adds the extra holiday sparkle and your kids will love creating this fun project!

Christmas garland by Jen Goode

I created a fun holiday banner with 16 of these mini art squares by hanging a piece of curly ribbon and then pinning each art piece to the ribbon using the mini clothes pins. This could be hung on the Christmas tree as garland as well. You can also hang each piece individually to create unique ornaments on your tree with the ribbon, the clothes pins or both. This is also a great project for classrooms allowing each child to make multiple pieces in the time allotted.

Christmas ornaments are as unique as the individuals that cherish them.  I like my ornaments to be sophisticated and a little elegant.  My mom on the other hand, likes wacky and crazy and my sister likes country.  When making ornaments I like to think of what the individual would like on their tree.  The etched ornaments below can be customized for any taste.  All you have to do is change out the image you are going to etch.

I used the images contained in the kit for some and then I decided to use tape to create stripes for the others.  There is a photo at the bottom that shows the tape strips being applied.

Supplies:

• Clear Disc Glass Ornament – 80 mm
• Starter Glass Etching Kit 
• Petaloo™ Poinsettia Blossoms – Red
• 2.5 inch Sheer Organza Ribbon in Moss 
• 6 inch Ivory Tulle 
• Neon Pink Opaque Pony Beads
• Magenta Studio 71 Acrylic Paint
• Paint Brush

Rub-on completely transferred to ornament

Apply Etching Creme to ornament then wash off and dry thoroughly

Detail of etched surface

You can use tape or vinyl to create images

You can also paint the back of the ornament

I hope with these instructions and the detailed pictures you can create some fabulous ornaments of your own.  Wishing you and your loved ones the best the holidays have to offer.

Niki

To make these cupcake ornaments, you will need:

• Clear, Round Glass Ornaments
• 1 inch Styrofoam Balls
• Paint – I used Magenta, White and Red
• Funnel (if mixing two paint colors together)
• Aleene’s Glitter Snow
• Diamond Dust
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue
• Wood Craft Sticks
• Duct Tape or Another Type of Strong Tape
• Ornament Hooks or Ribbon
• Cupcake Wrappers

1. Coat the inside of the ornament with paint.  I wanted my ornaments to be a light pink to go well with my black and white polka dotted cupcake wrappers, so I mixed the magenta and white paint together to create a lighter, softer pink.  Note: adding a little bit of water will make the paint thinner and easier to coat the inside.  Take off the top of the ornament where the hook goes, and put a generous amount of paint inside the ornament using the funnel.  Place a paper towel over the opening of the ornament and coat the inside by “swirling” the ornament around and tapping it against your other hand.  Let dry overnight.

2. The paint was not completely dry around the opening of the ornament, so I stuffed a piece of paper towel in the hole and put a piece of duct tape around the opening.  (The ornament will be turned upside down so you do not want the paint dripping into your cupcake wrapper.)

3. Paint the Styrofoam balls red for the cherry on top.  Stick a floral pick or toothpick in the Styrofoam ball for easy painting and drying.

4. Take a wood craft stick and Aleene’s Glitter Snow, and literally frost the bottom of the ornament.  I used quite a bit, for a thick frosting look and kept some swirls of texture in there so it looked more realistic.  After you have your desired frosting look, sprinkle on the Diamond Dust.  Note: you cannot see how glittery the Diamond Dust is from the pictures, but the Diamond Dust looks amazing and really finishes the frosting off in real life!

5. Hot glue the top of the ornament – where the duct tape is – and place into the cupcake wrapper.  Also, hot glue around the top of the cupcake wrapper so it is completely adhered to the ornament.

6. Take the metal top of the ornament – where the hook hangs- and stick it into the Styrofoam ball.  Hot glue the Styrofoam ball onto the frosting.  Let dry completely then add a hook or ribbon to hang.

This was my first attempt (after kindergarten) at making my own ornament, and I am pretty happy with it!  I think I found a new holiday tradition – DIY ornaments!

Material List:

• 9158-84 Wood Snowflake Cutouts-Asst Size
• VIVA-009 Viva Décor Glitter Liner-Silver
• VIVA-010 Viva Décor Glitter Liner-Gold
• 97854 Studio 71 Acrylic Paint Iridescent Gold
• 97855 Studio 71 Acrylic Paint Iridescent Silver
• 1096-60 Darice Wood Glue-4 oz
• SW0500 Krylon® Triple Thick Clear Glaze Spray

If you have never worked with wood before here are a few helpful tips when making wooden ornaments:

• When painting unfinished wooden ornaments it’s always a good idea to sand the wood first. Sanding makes the paint adhere more readily to the wood and brings out the wood grain, which I really like to see.
• You should always paint the front and back, even if the main design is on the front, the ornament will last longer if all wood is painted.
• When you have finished painting and are happy with how everything looks finish your project with a finish coat, some kind of clear sealer.  Christmas ornaments are usually stored away most of the year.  By sealing your ornament you will keep it looking great!

I had so much fun making the ornaments as an extra bonus I also sanded, painted, sealed a stand up ornament for one of our side-tables.  Item # 9169-78 Pinewood Stars-Natural-Asst